Thirty and a Half Excuses
Page 32

Mason paled. “That had to be terrifying. Seeing yourself dead.”
“You think I’m crazy.”
He shook his head and swallowed. “No. I don’t. This is just a lot to process. Give me a chance to catch up.”
“Okay.”
After several seconds, he sighed. “You told me that you knew Bruce Wayne Decker was innocent because you’d overheard a conversation about the case in the men’s bathroom. You really had a vision.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t know what it meant until the lapel pin I saw in the vision came up as evidence in court.”
He nodded, deep in thought.
“You believe her?” Neely Kate asked.
“Of course, I believe her,” Mason said softly. “Rose isn’t a liar, and she’s not prone to exaggeration. If she says this is true, then it is. But you have to understand that my world is based on black and white. What you’re telling me falls squarely into gray territory. I just need to wrap my head around it, is all.”
“Thank you.” I choked out.
His head shot up. “What did you think would happen when you told me?”
“I thought you’d call me crazy and never talk to me again.”
“No, Rose. Now that we’re friends again, it’s going to take a lot more than that to drive me away.”
The waitress came to the table with our food, and we all watched as she put our plates in front of us. I’d lost my appetite.
Neely Kate squirmed in her seat. I’m sure she was worried I was angry with her. I sort of was, but she was right. If Mason really was going to be my friend, he had to know. Especially if I was going to spend any considerable length of time around him.
I picked at my salad with my fork. “People don’t like me knowing stuff. They think I’m a snoop or a gossip, but it’s like Neely Kate said—I can’t control the visions. They just happen. Other people think I’m demon-possessed. It just became easier to hide away and avoid people when I could. So now I’m the weird Gardner sister. I’d figured I’d probably grow old alone and live in my mother’s house with a pack of feral cats.”
A smile lifted his mouth. “I can assure you that you won’t die alone.”
“Violet has always encouraged me to hide the visions. She’s spent most of her life protecting me. But Joe thinks I need to trust people more. He’ll be happy to know I told you.”
Mason snorted. “I highly doubt that.” He looked into my eyes. “But Joe’s right. Your visions are part of who you are and how God made you. Don’t hide that Rose. You need to find people you trust and tell them. You might be surprised to find they accept you, visions and all.”
“Thank you.”
He grinned, looking down at his sandwich. “I’m starving.”
The tension still hung over the table as we ate. Mason was still adjusting and Neely Kate was palpably nervous. Finally Mason shot me an exasperated look. “Will you go ahead and tell Neely Kate you forgive her for spilling your secret? Otherwise, I’m sure to get indigestion from all the nerves at this table.”
I laughed self-consciously. “Neely Kate, there’s nothing to forgive. You didn’t mean to let it slip, and I’m glad Mason knows. Really.”
She pulled me into a hug. “Thank you.”
I looked at the two people sitting at the table with me, wondering how I could have felt so lonely the night before. The good Lord was blessing me with more people in my life than I’d ever thought possible before Momma’s death. I needed to count my blessings.
Chapter Ten
Before Neely Kate went back to work, she told me in cryptic terms that she’d probably have the information I was waiting on later that afternoon. “I’ll call you. And don’t forget I’ll be working at the nursery with you tomorrow.”
Violet and I hoped the weekends would be busier, so we’d decided to hire some extra hands. Neely Kate had agreed to help out, taking plants for her new house as payment. “Oh, wait.” I called after her.
She stopped on the street corner, waiting to cross the street.
“I might not be at the shop tomorrow. I’ll probably be working at the church.”
“How’s that going?” she asked suspiciously.
I hesitated, unsure of what to say, especially with Mason standing next to me. “It’s going good.”
“What about the stoners?”
I cringed at her choice of words, but Mason was well aware that Bruce Wayne and David were inclined to smoke pot recreationally. “Bruce Wayne seems determined to pay me back. He’s makin’ sure they do a great job.”
“Well, there you go. You just never know a person, do you?” Waving, she crossed the street toward the courthouse.
“You hired Bruce Wayne Decker to work for you?” Mason asked.
I glanced up at him, surprised at the lack of recrimination in his voice. “You going to tell me you disapprove? Go ahead. Everyone else has.”
He shook his head. “No, I think it’s a great idea. I firmly believe everyone deserves a second chance, and I’m thankful for it…otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here next to you.” He grinned. “Where’s your car?”
I pointed down the street, and we headed for it.
“Who’s been giving you a hard time?”
“Violet, Neely Kate.” I supposed that list wasn’t long enough to encompass everyone, but the reality was it included most of the people in my world.